Historical letters

Letter by W Scott, 6 May 1857

May 6, 2009

22 The Astronomer to The Hon. The Colonial Secretary enclosing Estimates for 1858 11 Macquarie St. South May 6th 1857 57/44 Sir The enclosed Estimates though necessarily vague and inaccurate will not I trust prove very incorrect.

Letter by G R Smalley, 5 May 1870

May 5, 2009

68 Royal Observatory May 5 1870 Sir I have the honor to request that the Colonial Secretary will be pleased to approve of my disposing of the annual vote of £120 for the purpose of taking Meteorological Observations in different parts of the Colony in such proportions and in such places as I may think it expedient for the Publick benefit without limitation for a first scale of remuneration for each individual observer Voucher for each payment with details being returned to the Treasury as usual.

Letter by H C Russell, 4 May 1899

May 4, 2009

May 4 9 Mr Foster Dear Sir Could you meet me at the land on Saturday afternoon. I will leave Sydney by the train at 1.25 getting to Pennant Hills Station at 2.15. We could then work out the ground.

Letter by H C Russell, 3 May 1871

May 3, 2009

378 Sydney Observatory 3 May 1871 My dear Mr Kraft Recently in going over old records of the Colony I found the following notice which may interest you. “John Buff – poisoned by eating toad fish at Parramatta April 20th 1821 – he died in 20 minutes after eating it.

Letter by W Scott, 2 May 1857

May 2, 2009

17 11 Macquarie St. South Sydney May 2d. 1857 57/39 Sir I am requested to inform you that there will be forwarded to you this day by the Colonial Storekeeper Sydney ten packages of Meteorological Instruments and stands addressed to the Police Magistrates of Albury and Deniliquin who will arrange for their conveyance from Melbourne to their destinations.

Letter by W Scott, 1 May 1857

May 1, 2009

15 The Astronomer to The Honourable The Colonial Secretary respecting leave of Absence. 11 Macquarie St South Sydney May 1st 1857 57/37 Sir In reply to your letter of 30th April I beg to state that it was my intention to establish the Observatory at Parramatta before leaving Sydney; also that to establish those at Maitland and Goulburn would occasion a considerable waste of time and money, as I must pass through Goulburn on my return from Melbourne via Deniliquin, Albury, Cooma, Goulburn & Bathurst; and must pass through Maitland on my road to Armidale.

Letter by W Scott, 30 April 1857

April 30, 2009

14 57/36 11 Macquarie St. South Sydney April 30th 1857 Sir I beg to inform you that I have selected The Lunatic Asylum at Parramatta for the establishment of a Meteorological Observatory, and that you are appointed provisionally to the office of Observer at a salary of Twenty Pounds per annum from 1st May; such appointment being subject to the approval of the Government.

Letter by H C Russell, 29 April 1871

April 29, 2009

375 Sydney Observatory 29 April 1871 My dear Sir Almost every day now the boys bring the telegrams late especially is this so on Saturday when they often do not bring them till after 1pm and so keep one or both of the assistants about an hour after the time they are supposed to be done.

Letter by W Scott, 28 April 1857

April 28, 2009

13 11 Macquarie St South Sydney April 28th 1857 57/35 Sir Having been directed to apply to you for such Postage stamps as I might require for the use of my department I wrote to you on 21st Inst requesting you to send me the quantity which I considered necessary.

Letter by W Scott, 27 April 1857

April 27, 2009

11 57/33 11 Macquarie S. South Sydney April 27th 1857 Sir In reply to a letter No 951 from your office, enquiring what sum it is necessary to place in the estimates for 1857 in order to provide for my House Rent I have the honour to inform you that the sum to which I am limited is ₤200 per annum but that the sum required for the present year is ₤165 being at the rate of ₤13-15 per month.

Letter by H C Russell, 26 April 1892

April 26, 2009

Observatory April 26th 1892 Sir I have the honour to recommend that Mr Andrew Noble third Meteorological Assistant be paid from Janry 1st at the rate of £165 per annum as provided in the Estimate for 1892.

Letter by W Scott, 25 April 1857

April 25, 2009

11 Macquarie Street South Sydney April 25th 1857 57/32 Sir I have the honor to inform you that I have this day received a letter from the Colonial Secretary's Office in which it is stated that authority has been given for the payment of my allowance for house rent out of the sum voted for unforeseen expenses.

Letter by H C Russell, 24 April 1871

April 24, 2009

369 Govt Observatory 24 April 1871 Sir I have the honor to request that you will take the necessary steps to have some repairs to the vane and Time Ball machinery effected. The vane will not show the direction of the wind being too stiff to turn.

Letter by H C Russell, 23 April 1892

April 23, 2009

203 Observatory April 23 1892 Sir Certain necessary additions to the furniture of the Observatory consequent upon the alterations and additional rooms made last year were not made for want of funds.

Letter by W Scott, 22 April 1857

April 22, 2009

9 The Astronomer to The Hon. The Colonial Secretary requesting leave of absence 11 Macquarie St South Sydney April 22 1857 57/31 Sir Understanding that many weeks may elapse before some of the Instruments for the distant Stations reach their destinations, I propose to take the opportunity of visiting the other Australian colonies, principally on my own account but in some degree with a view to the public service.

Follow Us